Spy-cam rhinos to take on poachers with devices hidden in their horns

[rpm]

Spy-cam rhinos to take on poachers with devices hidden in their horns

The war on wildlife crime is taking a new technology-driven direction. Rhinos are being fitted with GPS trackers, heart rate monitors and spy cameras – all embedded within their horns. These small but high-tech devices could be a game changer for anti-poaching efforts in Africa.

That’s the claim of conservation group We Are Protect, whose Real-time Anti Poaching Intelligence Devices (RAPID) have completed proof-of-concept trials on black rhinos in South Africa. The project now aims to move forward to field testing.

Here’s how it works. The unit is fitted within the horn of a wild rhino – a painless operation as their horns are made of keratin, just like human nails or hair – and data is then relayed live to a centralised control centre which could be many miles away.

If the animal’s heart rate suddenly becomes heightened or declines, this triggers immediate analysis of the in-horn camera footage (at HQ) while an armed anti-poaching team scrambles on a rapid response mission to intercept the poachers at the location provided.

 

[Electron1]

Seems like a good idea - have to have a very fast reaction team to catch the poachers in the act though.

 

[Progenix Oj101]

I'm curious to know how this will be powered, I see no mention of it.

 

[Wall]

FANTASTIC, great idea and initative.

 

[AstroTurf]

Cyborg Rhinos, I love it

 

[Kornhub]

Awesome

 

[Zertop]

This is awesome

 

[Dan C]

I'm curious to know how this will be powered, I see no mention of it.

Solar powered

 

[Kingofmybbknowitalls]

Seems like a good idea - have to have a very fast reaction team to catch the poachers in the act though.

Exactly. Otherwise all that will help is to have a video to play with of the atrocity after the fact.

Security cameras don't really deter SA's criminals. They even smile and wave at the camera because they know that once they disappeared into the masses, they will not be caught.

 

[RoganDawes]

I trust they have considered radio direction finders. Otherwise the poachers can just follow the signal to find a rhino :-(

 

[Turgon]

If you're cruising downtown and you glimpse a rhino shadowing you down the alley, don't act suspiciously...We Are Protect might have an interest in your activities...

 

[Stokstert]

And the reaction team most probably works with the poachers for some extra income, not? :erm:

 

[Enzo Matrix]

So now the poachers get the horn AND a free camera if they want it?

 

[Stevi]

Version 2.0 can have a remote controlled machine gun attached to the horn to shoot back at the poachers

Brilliant idea though, hope it works well

 

[Ninja'd]

If the animal’s heart rate suddenly becomes heightened or declines, this triggers immediate analysis of the in-horn camera footage (at HQ) while an armed anti-poaching team scrambles on a rapid response mission to intercept the poachers at the location provided.

Plus we get cool pov shots of a mama rhino protecting the calves from predators. Wonder if the team will still show up in those cases.

 

[JJCT]

This makes me think of the second Ace Ventura movie when he is in Africa and does surveillance in a fake rhino.